In a showcase of batting brilliance, Sanju Samson led India to an emphatic series clean sweep over Bangladesh, steering his team to a formidable total of 297 for 6 in their T20I clash in Hyderabad. This achievement not only represents India’s highest ever score in this format but is also the second-highest T20I score internationally, following Nepal’s peak of 314 for 3 against Mongolia.
A vast crowd gathered at the stadium was treated to a batting masterclass by Samson, who unleashed a blistering innings of 111 runs off just 47 balls. He was exceptionally well-supported by the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed a significant 75 off 35 deliveries. Together, they built a gigantic 173-run partnership in a mere 69 balls. As the innings unfolded, Hardik Pandya (47 off 18 balls) and Riyan Parag (34 off 13 balls) added the cherry on top with explosive performances, ensuring a towering total for India. The innings saw an impressive 25 fours and 22 sixes come from the host’s bats, illustrating the sheer dominance of the Indian lineup against the visiting Bangladesh side.
The match began with India winning the toss and opting to bat, and from the outset, they seemed poised to mount an imposing score. The first over was hesitant, yielding only seven runs, the most economical over in an otherwise extravagant innings. However, the tide turned swiftly when Samson, in the second over, sent four balls racing to the boundary, immediately putting Bangladesh bowlers on the back foot.
Tanzim Hasan offered Bangladesh a brief respite with the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma, who succumbed to a mistimed shot caught at mid-wicket. But Suryakumar Yadav was quick to get into his stride, beginning with a six off his very first delivery. By the completion of the PowerPlay, India had galloped to 82 for 1, setting a blistering pace early on.
The ban lifting field restrictions did little to stem India’s aggressive approach. Samson, at his unfaltering best, reached his half-century in just 22 balls, marking one of many milestones in the innings. The likes of Rishad Hossain bore the brunt of Samson’s onslaught, with Samson capitalizing on his loose deliveries to the tune of five consecutive sixes in a single over, amassing 30 runs.
. This sequence highlighted a challenging period for the Bangladesh bowling unit, compounded further by a subsequent beamer from Taskin Ahmed, which, appropriately punished, maintained India’s commanding momentum.
Samson’s century, a majestic knock completed off a mere 40 balls, came courtesy of an assured boundary lofted directly over the bowler’s head. Though he eventually holed out at deep-square leg after notching two additional boundaries, by then his damage was well and truly done. Suryakumar’s exit came soon after, caught at deep mid-wicket off Mahmudullah, but not before ensuring their side’s mammoth total was on the cards.
Not willing to relent, Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag entertained the crowd with their gallant hitting towards the innings’ conclusion, exacerbating the visitors’ woes. Pandya’s confrontation with Tanzim yielded 21 runs in an over, while Parag’s exchanges with Mahedi Hasan transcended into memorable displays of fireworks. A rather comical fielding error by Litton Das, missing a run-out opportunity, encapsulated an innings to forget for Bangladesh.
Despite Tanzim rectifying some personal statistics by dispatching both Hardik and Nitish Reddy off consecutive balls, the damage was done. Rinku Singh’s piquant six off the last ball of the innings fittingly carried India to a sensational total.
In response, Bangladesh’s chase experienced turbulence right from the first ball, which saw Mayank Yadav’s bouncer remove Parvez Hossain Emon, snapped up deftly by Riyan Parag at slip. Though a brief flurry from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan offered glimpses of resistance, the outcome seemed inevitable against an energized Indian side.
By the six-over mark, with wickets at regular intervals and the scoreboard pressure escalating, Bangladesh faltered significantly in their chase. Litton Das offered the sole reminder of Bangladeshi resilience with some flashes of boundaries, but his downfall signaled further trouble for the tourists, compounded by the dismissals of Mahmudullah and others who followed meekly.
India’s bowlers, notably Ravi Bishnoi with his figures of 3 for 30 and Mayank Yadav with 2 for 32, dismantled any hope of a late Bangladeshi recovery. Despite Towhid Hridoy’s valiant unbeaten 63, the tourists ultimately capitulated to a final tally of 164 in their 20 allotted overs.
As the dust settled on a match that showcased intense cricketing prowess, India celebrated not only their triumph in the series but also the emergence of Sanju Samson, whose stellar century will be etched into the annals of their cricketing folklore.